Diffuser, diffuser assembly, and air conditioner having the same

Abstract

A diffuser, which is used in an air conditioner, includes a central portion where a motor is disposed, and a plurality of blades radially disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the central portion and arranged at regular intervals along the outer circumferential surface of the central portion. An outer guide wall is disposed concentrically with the central portion and is formed to surround the plurality of blades. The outer guide wall includes a plurality of openings formed in a plurality of portions each of which corresponds to a space between two adjacent blades among the plurality of blades.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A diffuser configured to be used in an air conditioner, the diffuser comprising:
 a central portion configured to receive a motor having a shaft; 
 a plurality of blades extending radially at intervals from an outer circumferential surface of the central portion; and 
 an outer guide wall concentric with the central portion and surrounding the plurality of blades, the outer guide wall including a plurality of openings with at least one opening of the plurality of openings between one pair of adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, 
 wherein the central portion is formed to protrude more rearward than the outer guide wall, and 
 the central portion comprises:
 a motor mounting portion on which the motor is disposed and including a through hole through which the shaft of the motor passes; 
 an air guide portion provided outside the motor mounting portion and formed as an inclined surface inclined upward toward the outer guide wall; and 
 a blade support portion extending from the air guide portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 a portion of each of the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall facing a first end of the outer guide wall corresponding to an upstream direction based on a direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is defined by a bottom in the outer guide wall, and 
 another portion of each of the plurality of openings facing a second end of the outer guide wall corresponding to a downstream direction based on the direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is open. 
 
     
     
       3. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a depth from the second end of the outer guide wall to a bottom of each of the plurality of openings is 25% or more of a height of the outer guide wall. 
     
     
       4. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of openings comprises:
 a vertical portion perpendicular to a first end of the outer guide wall; and 
 an inclined portion inclined with respect to the vertical portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of openings further comprises a recessed portion in one side of the vertical portion. 
     
     
       6. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein
 the outer guide wall includes an inclined support portion adjacent to the inclined portion, and 
 one end of one of the plurality of blades extends from an inner surface of the inclined support portion. 
 
     
     
       7. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall correspond to the plurality of blades one-to-one. 
     
     
       8. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings have a same shape and an equal area. 
     
     
       9. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 a portion of each of the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall facing a first end of the outer guide wall corresponding to an upstream direction based on a direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is open, and 
 another portion of each of the plurality of openings facing a second end of the outer guide wall corresponding to a downstream direction based on the direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is defined by a bottom in the outer guide wall. 
 
     
     
       10. The diffuser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 each opening of the plurality of openings corresponds to one or more blades of the plurality of blades so that a number of openings of the plurality of openings correspond to a number of blades of the plurality of blades one-to-one or one-to-more than one. 
 
     
     
       11. A diffuser assembly configured to be used in an air conditioner, the diffuser assembly comprising:
 a motor having a shaft; 
 a fan coupled to the shaft of the motor and configured to discharge air; and 
 a diffuser coupled to the motor and configured to guide the air discharged by the fan, the diffuser comprising: 
 a central portion coupled to the motor; 
 a plurality of blades extending radially at intervals from an outer circumferential surface of the central portion; and 
 an outer guide wall concentric with the central portion and surrounding the plurality of blades, the outer guide wall including a plurality of openings with at least one opening of the plurality of openings between one pair of adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, 
 wherein the central portion is formed to protrude more rearward than the outer guide wall, and 
 the central portion comprises:
 a motor mounting portion on which the motor is disposed and including a through hole through which the shaft of the motor passes; 
 an air guide portion provided outside the motor mounting portion and formed as an inclined surface inclined upward toward the outer guide wall; and 
 a blade support portion extending from the air guide portion. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the outer guide wall of the diffuser is greater than a maximum diameter of the fan. 
     
     
       13. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein
 a portion of each of the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall facing a first end of the outer guide wall corresponding to an upstream direction-based on a direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is defined by a bottom in the outer guide wall, and 
 another portion of each of the plurality of openings facing a second end of the outer guide wall corresponding to a downstream direction based on the direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is open. 
 
     
     
       14. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of openings comprises:
 a vertical portion perpendicular to a first end of the outer guide wall; and 
 an inclined portion inclined with respect to the vertical portion. 
 
     
     
       15. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of openings further comprises a recessed portion in one side of the vertical portion. 
     
     
       16. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein
 the outer guide wall includes an inclined support portion adjacent to the inclined portion, and 
 one end of one of the plurality of blades extends from an inner surface of the inclined support portion. 
 
     
     
       17. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall correspond to the plurality of blades one-to-one. 
     
     
       18. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein
 the plurality of openings have a same shape and an equal area. 
 
     
     
       19. The diffuser assembly as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein
 a portion of each of the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall facing a first end of the outer guide wall corresponding to an upstream direction based on a direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is open, and 
 another portion of each of the plurality of openings facing a second end of the outer guide wall corresponding to a downstream direction based on the direction of air flow passing through the diffuser, is defined by a bottom in the outer guide wall. 
 
     
     
       20. An air conditioner comprising:
 a main body having a front opening in a front surface thereof; 
 a diffuser in the front opening of the main body; 
 a motor coupled to the diffuser and having a shaft; 
 a fan in the front opening and configured to be rotated by the motor; 
 a front panel spaced apart from the front surface of the main body to cover the diffuser; and 
 an air outlet between an edge of the front panel and an edge of the front opening of the main body, the diffuser comprising: 
 a central portion coupled to the motor; 
 a plurality of blades extending radially at intervals from an outer circumferential surface of the central portion; and 
 an outer guide wall concentric with the central portion and surrounding the plurality of blades, the outer guide wall including a plurality of openings with at least one opening of the plurality of opening between one pair of adjacent blades of the plurality of blades, so that the diffuser is configured to guide air generated when the fan is rotated, through the plurality of openings in the outer guide wall to the air outlet between the edge of the front panel and the edge of the front opening of the main body, 
 wherein the central portion is formed to protrude more rearward than the outer guide wall, and 
 the central portion comprises:
 a motor mounting portion on which the motor is disposed and including a through hole through which the shaft of the passes; 
 an air guide portion provided outside the motor mounting portion and formed as an inclined surface inclined upward toward the outer guide wall; and 
 a blade support portion extending from the air guide portion. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The air conditioner as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein
 the front panel is movable by a predetermined distance in a vertical direction with respect to the front surface of the main body, and 
 when the front panel is in a position away from the diffuser, the air outlet is open, and when the front panel is in a position closest to the diffuser, the air outlet is closed.